Controller



C. B. [VES CONTROLLER Nov. 7, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 24. 1947 INVENTOR CZ/FFo/eo B. /vfs ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 7, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Gliiord B.,Ives, Tenafly, N. J., assignorto Kieley & Mueller, Inc., North BergenN. J., a corporation of New York Application February 24, 1947, Serial No. '730,650A

8 Claims.v 1

This invention relates toimprovements in regulatingmechanisms and particularly apparatus tocontrol a condition, such-as pressure, by operating a-fluid pressure relay or pilot valve, said pilot valve controlling a--uid pressure to regulate'a valvev or other-device to maintainthe condition, such as` pressure, at-A a desired value.

One Aexample` of the use-0f such a mechanism-is the reg-ulatoniof the kpressure of a vapor in. arhamber` by control of the ow of high pressure vapor to the chamber by means of a con- ,dition1 controllen One. type of suitable conditionA controller. is a diaphragm o-perated valve whichfcanber`l0cated invthe high pressure vapor supply line to the chamber. The diaphragm valve may be. operable'by al controlling medium ssuch'asair, theipressure of-thecontrolling air being regulatedl bythe relay or pilot valve. pilotlvalvelcan bepositioned by means ofA a condition responsive element, such as a bourdon tuba-.responsive to the pressure inthe chamber. A sourceof controlan. is connected tothe pilot valve through a restricted orice between the valveand the. sourcegof airthe diaphragm motor valve also-,being connected to said pilot valve.Y

Whenzthe pilot .vali/eisernen,v air will be exhausted.

therefrom faster thanY it. is supplied through the restricted orice and thus will cause a reduction in controlling air pressurev affecting the diaphragm valve. 2

The

,Diaphragmforr other pressureoperated valves A are. commonly .furnished for. use with regulating.

systems. that are of thetype that close upon an increase in` control pressurefor ofthe type that vopen upon an increase Aofpre'ssure. It is.desirable, therefore, to vprovide a regulating apparatus that vmay be used with either type of valve or control mechanism .sothat .the regulat- :ing apparatus `can be usedv regardless of the kind of diaphragm valve available or the-valve already in use where the. regulator is to be applied to an existent system.

One 7oi the objects ,of the invention is toy provide a regulating apparatus that can be changed or adjusted easily so as to produce either an in- ;crease or decreasein control pressure in response to a change in the condition to be controlled in one direction away from a predetermined value.

Another object of the invention is tor provide an easily cleaned restricted orifice especially suitable for use: in arregulating apparatusof the type described.

One of the features of the invention is the arrangement of4 the Dilot valve on a seat in the iframeA ofi the regulatorl so that. the pilot valve can 2 have its `action reversed by merely turning the valve on said seatwithout changing any other parts of the apparatus,

Theninvention may be applied to regulating4 apparatus other` than the controlv of pressure and canbe actuated by other condition responsivemeans than abourdontube such as, for example, by an expanding. fluid motor.

These'land other objects,V features, and advantages will become apparent from the following description and` illustrationswhich are merely exemplary.

In the drawings:

' Eig. 1 is.afront,elevation with the cover of the y casing removed.

a direct acting position or one wherein increase,

of control air pressure in response to increase in pressure will close the diaphragm valve.

Fig. ,6 isa schematic` view of the device showingthe pilot valve turnedin a reverse acting direction.`

In `a preferred embodiment of the invention, a bourdon tube mechanism isused to position a pilot valve for'regulating the `pressure of an oper-v ating fluid Vfor a controlmechanism. The operating uid may be air, and the control mechanism may besome suitable apparatus,fsuch as a dia'phragin-,operatedV Valve. valve operators or control mechanism may be used-examples being bellows and piston operated valves. The pilot Valve is connectedeto the source of air pressure through a restriotedorice,v and the vdiaphragm motor valve is .connected to the pilot valve or the source of air pressure after the air `has passed through saidA orice. pilot valve is closed, the diaphragm motor valve will become subjectedto fullair pressure because the pressure on both sides of the oriiice will becomezequalized. After the pressures have become e'qualized and when the pilot valve is opened, air

vvllv be. exhausted therefrom faster than air will be supplied through the orifice so that pressure to theY diaphragm valve will be decreased from the pressure'of: the-,sourceof air.

Other equivalent` When the I-Iousing or casing I may have a suitable cover II (Figs. 2 and 3) to protect the mechanism. Control air supply pipe I2 may be connected to passage I3 (Fig. 3) of manifold I4, said passage I3 extending through the manifold to the connection I5 to the diaphragm motor valve. Restricted orifice I6 may be screw threadedly engaged at I1 into manifold I4,`said orifice construction being described in detail at a later point. Manifold I4 has a branch I8 with a passage I9 communicating with passage I3, said passage I9? leading to the manifold pilot valve body seatZ (Figs. 2, 4), said valve body seat rotatably supporting valve body 2| in one of a plurality of.

predetermined positions. passage. 22 therein connecting interior 23 of said Valve body 2i with passage I9. l v

Valve body-2| has .a-

The valve assembly in the form sho'vvnmajv7l` comprise valve -spindle 24 having stemportions .Y

25 and 26 extending in opposite directions through opposite sides of valve body 2|. The stern may be threaded so as to adjustably carry valve disks 21, 28, said valve disks being providedA with suitable lock nuts 29, 30. The spindle 24.may have a valve. travel limiting nut and lock nut 3|. Pilot valve seat 32 may be screw threadedly mounted4 onv valve body 2| so that the valve may be assembled vvith ease, and the .upper valve seat33 suitably may be formed on the exterior of the valve body 2|. Y

As previously mentioned, the system to be'con.

trolled in some instances is arranged so ,thatan increase in pressure in the controlled medium requires closing of the pilotvalve to increaseY con trol air pressure to the motor valve, and in other instances the mechanism is arranged so. that an increase in pressure in thecontrolled medium requires opening of the pilot valve to reduce control.

air'pressure. In .order to readily use the controller witheithersystem, the pilot valve needsto be easily reversible.Y versibility, valve body 2| has flange 34 with a circular seat, 35 which. is rotatably engageable with the manifold valve body seat 2i) of manifold.v

branch I8. A gasket 36 may be provided for said seat so. as to properly seal the valve body relative to themanifold IB in any one of its adjusted positions.

A pairofscrews 31 (Figs. 1 and 4) Vmay have Washers38 engageable with yflange 34 of the valve bodyandwhensaid screws are tightened, valve body 2| will be held firmly in position on manifold.`

valve body seat 20.w Uponloosening. said screws,

the.valve vbody may begrasped and turnedV onl said seat and thusthe valve can be located in a direct acting position orV in a reverse acting posi-- tube, Ysaid arm comprising a fiat strip or otherl suitable shape.

Fulcrum support arm .42 may be pivoted at 43;

to.,` the casing I0, said fulcrum support arm 'in` the form shown being an angle with a slot or aperture therein carrying the adjustable fulcrum.v de; 'Adjustingrpnut H45 isconnectedat-4 to` ful-s 'Crum support arm 42 for pivoting said fulcrum.

support arm 42 about pivot 43. As the support arm is rotated about pivot 43, the fulcrum 44 To provide for such a reH will be raised or lowered and thus will change the magnitude of the pressure being controlled or the control point of the controller.

In order to change the throttling characteristicsI of the controller, fulcrum 44 is adjustable along the fulcrum support arm 42. Such an adjustment will control the Width of the proportional throttling Yband of the pressure pilot. The ratio of movement of end-41 of the fulcrum arm relative to the end connected to the bourdon tube 39 will be controlled by the relative position of fulcrum 44 to said two ends. If fulcrum 44 is to the eXtreme right of lever 42, it will become apparent so that the pressure`-pilot valve will become practically an onc controller.V As the fulcrum is moved farther to theleft, a greater movement of '.thei-.bourdon tube will be necessary for a corresponding movement of the pressure pilot valve so that the vgpressure K pilotvv valve ;-will have, a band wherein a proportioning or throttling regulationy is effected; A,that is, ,there will be a regulating movement of the `valve lbetween its full open and-V fullclosed position by the bourdon tube. In theV specic arrangement shown, the proportional band Vmaybe varied from 1% to 7 5% of :thepilot pressure range. It is` also evident ,that .further adjustment of operation maybe made by.v adjust-i ingthe various elements of the valve assembly oni spindle 24.V ,Y .Y

Gauge 48. `may be used to indicate therpressure of, the control supplyair; vand gauge 49,1toindifl cate the pressure of thecontrplling air to the diafulcrum arm `4I about fulcrum `44 :.counterclockf Wise so as to cause valve spindle 24 to move down.` warvdly Vand. valves 21 and,28 to .close, aspring 5o, being providedpsoy as to assist movement of. theV valve` spindle. downwardly against fulcrum.v` armgGI.: When the pilot valve is closed, escape of the controlY medium or air past valve disks 21n andL 28 is stopped .so thatrjcontrol air `.pressure will build up in line valve. f

.-As thel pressure in the bourdon tubedecreases;

feedingA inte passaget I8 faster than .it leaKsfout`Y througnthepilot valve. Y. iiVhnthe controller :is arranged isreversed by merelyloosening screws 31, grasp.- ing the valvebody and rotatingY it 180 degrees'fon seat 20, and then tightening the screws again.

Stem end 25 then will be in contact with end 41 of the fulcrum arm ,4|'so that an increase ofA pressure in the bourdon tube Will allow the Valves 21 and 28 to open.

As an exampleof operationof the direct acting; pilot valve, in a control .system wherein steam pressure in a pipe is being controlled, reference maybe made to '.Fig. 5 wherein air is supplied through pipe I2 to passage: I 3v passing through restrictedrforice- .I 6. `When' the steam' pressure ini pipe 53 leading to the point of usebecom'es re-. duced,lthe bourdonltub'e 39 willicontract 'rotating fulcrum arm 4I clockwiseso as to open' 'the pilot ii valve. This will allow air to escape through the..

position shown `I 5. toy the diaphragm. motor .fori .a direct acting valve as j ust ,described and'a'reverse acting 'position is necessary, the pilot .valve body 2| si pilot valve fas'ter-thanit-is'supplied through orifice ljyfand therefore-cause a lowering of pressure in the space 54 in thediaphragm motor valve 55. lll/ThenV this occurs, spring 56 will raise the diaphragm 51 and 'open valve'58 to allow,

more steam to be supplied to pipe 53.

Ii' .the pilot valveis` turned as shown in Fig. 6 so aslto be infareverse.acting-position suitablefor operating a diaphragm-motonvalve-which is the reverse of that shown. in. Fig; 5, a decrease lof pressure'. in steam piper53.will! cause the pilot valve toclose, thereby Vincreasing pressure under the diaphragmilnofv the diaphragm motor Valve 59. rThis vwill compress spring-Eiland open valve 62 so as to admit more steam to the pipe 53.

The restricted orifice I6 may take the form of a screw threaded member with an annular recess 52 cut therein to give a passage of the correct size in conjunction with the walls of passage I3. When it is desired to clean the orifice, it is merely necessary to unscrew member y5| and remove the same from the manifold. A cloth, nger nail, or other object then can be passed around the recess 52 to clean the same. After this, the orice plug may be inserted and the device will then be ready for operation in a cleaned condition. As is well known, it is diiiicult to clean the conventional orifice and frequently the orice passage is damaged when a wire or other cleaner is passed therethrough.

Other types of apparatus and systems may be operated by the described pilot Valve wherein temperature or other condition to be controlled may be used to position the pilot valve. Also the controlled diaphragm or fluid pressure motor may operate switches or mechanisms other than a valve to control the ow to the process being operated wherein it is desired to maintain a selected physical condition. It is evident that variations may be made in the apparatus specically described without departing from the spirit of the invention as described in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a condition controller, a frame, a valve casing, a valve mounted in said casing and having operating stems extending in opposite directions from said valve, a mount on said frame for mounting said valve casing selectively in direct and reverse positions, and a condition responsive mechanism operating one of said stems to move the valve in direct or reverse directions in accordance with the position of the Valve casing on said frame.

2. .In a condition contro-ller, a frame, a valve casing, a valve mounted in said casing and having operating stems extending in opposite directions from said valve and casing, a mount on said frame on which said valve casing is rotatably moved selectively to direct or reverse positions, a condition responsive element carried by said frame, and a connector movable by said condition responsive element and contacta-ble with one of the valve stems to move the valve in direct or reverse directions in accordance with the position of the valve casing on said frame.

3. In a condition controller, a frame, a condition responsive means mounted on said frame,

a pilot valve operable by said condition respon- Y rection.

4. In a condition controller, a frame, a coni dition responsive means mounted on said frame, a pilot valver operable by said condition responsive means and adapted to control fluid pressure -to -a fluid pressure operated controller, a pilotvalvefbody mount on' said frame, a control fluid pressure-manifold connected to said mount,

means to` connect vsaid manifold to-a source of control fluid and to la fluid pressure operated controller, and means to adjustably hold said pilot valve body on said mount selectively in a direct or reverse position, whereby said control fluid pressure can be varied in the desired direction in response to change in said condition in one direction.

5. In a condition controller, a frame, a condition responsive means mounted on said frame, a pilot valve operable by said condition responsive means and adapted to control fluid pressure to a fluid pressure operated controller, a pilot valve body mount on said frame, a control fluid pressure manifold connected to said mount, means to connect said manifold to a source of control iiuid and to a fluid pressure operated controller, a restricted orice in said manifold between the pilot valve and the source of control fluid connection, and means to adjustably hold said pilot valve on said mount selectively in a direct or reverse position, whereby said control fluid pressure can be varied in the desired direction in response to change in said condition in one direction.

6. In a condition controller, a frame, a condition responsive means mounted on said frame, a pilot valve operable by said condition responsive means and adapted to control uid pressure to a fluid press-ure operated controller, a pilot valve body mount on said frame for rotatably holding said pilot valve, a, lever and adjustable fulcrum adapted to connect said condition responsive element and said pilot Valve, means to adjust said fulcrum so as to change the setting point of the pilot valve and the ratio of movement 'of said pilot valve and condition responsive means, and means to adjustably hold said pilot valve body on said mount in a direct or a reverse position relative to said condition responsive means, whereby said control fluid pressure can be varied in the desired direction in responsev to change in said condition in one direction.

'7. In a condition controller adapted for univer-- sal use, a frame, a condition responsive means mounted on said frame, a pilot valve operable by said condition responsive means and adapted to control fluid pressure to a fluid pressure operated controller, a pilot valve body mount on said frame, means adjustably holding said pilot valve body on said seat selectively in a direct or reverse position, a control fluid pressure manifold on said frame connected to said mount, means to connect said manifold to a source of control fluid and to a fluid pressure operated controller, and a restricted orifice comprising a removable plug with an annular groove therein cooperable with said frame to form a restricted control fluid passage to the pilot valve from the source oi control fluid supply.

8. In a condition controller, a frame, a condition responsive means mounted on said frame, a pilot valve operable by said condition respon,-

7. A sive ias and adaptedrto control fluid pressure to a uid pressure operated controller, said valve having a body and a plurality of operating means operable Vfrom various directions, said operating means being connected to Valve means in said body, a mount on said frame for mounting said valve body selectively in any one of a plurality of directions, and clamping means holding said Valve body on said mount in direct or reverse positions relative to said condition responsive means, whereby said control ud pressure can be varied in the desired direction in response to change in said condition in one direction.

CLIFFORD B'. IVES.

8 VREFEImNoEs CITED Th following referencessare of Vrecord in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number NameV Y Date 1,897,135 Mason Feb. 14, 1933 2,076,465 Kirk Apr. 6, 1937 2,258,360 Hetzer, Oct. 7, 194:1 2,283,296 Temple May 19, 1942 2,327,898 `Hubley Aug. 24, 1943 2,356,970 Brockett Aug. 29, 1944 2,427,235 Smoot Sept. 9, 1947 2,461,026

Bilyeu Feb. 8, 1949 

